Electric flasher



MaX-24, 1932 n... A. M. PHELAN 1,859,934

ELECTRIC 'FLASHER Original Filed April 1. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 24,1932- L. A. M. Pil-:ELAN 1,859,934

ELECTRIC FLASHER Original Filed April l. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 24,1932 n.. A. M. PHELAN 1,859,934

ELECTRIC FLASHER Original Filed April l 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedMay 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A. M. PHELAN, OF ELKHART,INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELLREGULATOR COMPANY, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELECTRIC FLASHER riginal application ledApril. 1, 1927, Serial No. 180,094. Divided and this application led.November 26,

rl`his appl'cation is a continuation and division of application SerialNo. 180,094, filed April l, 1927 for Electric flashers by the applicantof this application and relates to the sul' ject-matter of claims 14,15, 1G, 18 and 19.

This invention relates to electric Hashers and has special reference to`an electrically operated and controlled device for periodicallymaking-and-breaking an electrical circuit in various types of electricalapparatus.

More particularly this invention relates to an electric flasheremploying one or more fluid contact making-and-breaking members whichare actuated by an electromagnet to control the electrical circuittherethrough and through a lamp or any other desirable load.

The various types of apparatus controlled by this invention arecontinuous 1n action, and therefore, it is desirable that the latter bedesigned so as to be durable, simple in operation, and require a minimnmamount of electrical energy for its operation. Further, it isparticularly desirable that the contact making-and-breaking members arecapable of opening and closing an electrical circuit indefinitelywithout substantial deterioration and disintegration thereof or of theoperating mechanism generally.

The device shown in this application comprises an unbalanced armaturemounted on an armature shaft, which armature is operated by anelectromagnet. One or more electrical switches, preferably of thetiltable fluid contact making-and-breaking type, are mounted on thearmature shaft to control the supply of electrical energy throughtheelectromagnet and the lamps or any other load which may be desired,the electromagnet actuating the armature to produce a rotation of thearmature shaft. which latter controls the operation of the switches.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an electric flasherwhich is simple in construction and durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric llasher inwhich the length of flash may be readily adjusted.

A further object of this invention is to pro'- the side walls.

Serial No. 321,811.

vide an electric flasher requiring a minimum of electrical energy forits operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electricflasher which is selfstarting upon receiving a supply of electricalenergy therethrough.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an electric flasherwhich will operate substantially and without regard to the plane atwhich it is disposed and will tend to realign itself if caused to moveout of position.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification to which latter reference may be now had for amore complete understanding of the characteristic features of thisinvention, in which drawings:

Figure l is a top plan View of the signal flasher;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the mechanism of the signal flashershowing the casing in section and being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse central sectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the electrical connection between theterminal of the casing and the electrical switch;

Fig. 6 is a transverse central sectional. view of the switch membertaken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electric flasher as connected to thebattery and the load.

Referring now to the drawings, the electric asheixicomprises a housing10 having a cover 11 suitably fastened to the top of the side wallsthereof as by means of a screw eX- tending through the cover and inthreaded engagement with lugs cast. integrally with 'The housing ispreferably cast of metal, although it is understood that the saine maybe stamped or formed of sheet metal or made of wood, composition or anyother desirable substance. In this instance, the housing or container isformed into a hexagonal shape to conform more or less to the outline ofthe mechanism contained therein, although it may be desirable to havethis container shaped in a manner to conform with the apparatus withwhich it may be associated.

The operating mechanism of the electric fiasher comprises anelectromagnet substantially of the horseshoe type having a pair ofspaced iron upright members 12 between which is suitably mounted a softiron core 13. A pair of screws 14 extend through the upright members 12and threadedly engage the core 13 to hold the same in a fixed relationwith the upright members.

A coil of wire 15 is wound around the iron core 13 and is suitablyinsulated from the iron uprights 12 as by means of the mica or hardrubber discs 16. The iron uprights 12 are secured to the base of thehousing 10 by means of screws 17 and are further supported and joinedtogether by means of the end plates 18 which latter are suitably fixedthereto.

Two pairs of intersecting supporting discs 19 and 20 are supported bythe end plates 18, said discs 19 being fixedly mounted to a shaft 21 andsaid discs 20 being fixedl7 mounted to a shaft 22, both of which shaftsare rotatably mounted in the end plates 18.

A pair of unbalanced armatures 23 and 24 are mounted to an armatureshaft 25 and are adjustably fixed thereto by means of the set screws 26.The armatures are preferably formed of a soft iron,`and the armatureshaft is preferably composed of a metal such as brass `or any other goodelectrical conducting material. The armature shaft 25 extends throughenlarged openings in the end plates 18 and is supported on theperipheries and at the point of intersection of the intersectlng discs19 and 20. The shaft 25 is held against longitudinal movement by meansof having its ends reduced whereby shoulders iso are formed as at 25 forabutting the peripheries of the discs 20. The armatures 23 and 24 areheld in a biased or unbalanced position between the uprights 12 by meansof counterweights 27 which are preferably formed integraltherewith, eachbeing formed at a position closer to one end thereof than to the other.By thus positioning the counterweights 27 off-center, the weight ofgravity will hold the elongated armatures in an unbalanced or biasedposition.

A pair of collars 28 are mounted on theA ends of the armature shaft 25and arcadjustably fixed thereon by means of set screws clips 31 forreceiving and holding a pair of mercury tube contactors 32 and 33 inaxial alignment with the armature shaft 25.

The mercury tube contactors 32 and 33 are of the same construction and adescription of one will be identical with that of the other. Thecontactor 32 comprises a hermetically sealed glass container into whichis disposed a pair of spaced cooperating electrodes 34 and 35, electrode34 passing through a glass shank 36 of the container to be fastened onthe outer side` thereof to the clip 31, electrode 35 passing throughglass shank 3T and extending a short" distance out of the container. Acurrent conducting spring 38 'is secured at its outer end to a bracket39 which latter bracket is secured to a terminal screw 40 extendingthrough the housing 10 and insulated therefrom by means of insulatingwashers 41. The other end of the current conducting spring 38 is securedto a bracket 42 which is fixed to the outer end of the electrode 35. Theother contactor tube 33 is connected through one end of a currentconducting spring 38 and a bracket 39 to a terminal screw 43 whichextends through the housing l() and is insulated therefrom by means ofinsulating washers 41, the other end of said spring 38 being connectedto a bracket 42 which is fixed to the outer end of electrode 35.

shown, it will be noted thatthe electrodes 34 and 35 are spacedtransversely of the axis of the tube, this being for the reason that itis desired to operate the contactor tube by means of rotating the sameor tilting the tube on its own center or axis. Heretofore, these mercurytubes, as far as is known to this applicant, have been moved or tiltedabout a center outside of itself. Each of the contactor tubes 32 and 33are held in a fixed relation with the brackets 30 and their cooperatingclips 31, said brackets and clips being fixed to the collars 29 whichare adj ustably fixed to the armature shaft 25, and therefore, thecont-actor tubes 32 and 33 are adjustable with respect to the armatureshaft 25.

In the operation of the device thus far described` when the coil 15 isenergized, the electromagnetic lnes thread through the armatures 23 and24 and the latter are raised against the.action of the gravity weights2T to a substantially horizontal position whereby the iron circuit iscompleted through the electromagnet. to the shaft 25,'this actionrotates the latter and causes a rotation of the contacter tubes 32 and33 in one direction. Upon the deenergization of the electromagnet, thegravity weights 27 return to their original position to rotate thecontactor tubes 32 and 33 in the opposite direction.

T he electrodes 34 and 35 are preferably so ico As the armatures arefixed Y' one direction will cause the mercury 44 to bridge theelectrodes in one of the contactors thereby making an electrical circuittherethrough, while the mercury in the other con- 47 to the armatureshaft 25.

tactor is caused to flow away from the electrodes to break theelectrical circuit therethrough. By referring now to Fig. 6, it will benoted that the electrode 35 occupies a substantially central position inthe contactor 32 and the electrode 34 is positioned to the rightthereof. In the contactor 33 looking in the same direction as that inwhich Fig. 6 is taken, the electrode 34 should be positioned to the leftof the electrode 35. y

In order to determine the flash period or that length of time in whichthe mercury bridges the electrodes, it will be noted that by looseningthe set screw 29 and rotating the collar 28 in one direction, a Veryslight flash period may be effected inasmuch as the mercury will have acomparatively great distance to travel before it contacts with thesecond electrode to make an electrical circuit therethrough, whereasrotation of the collar 28 in the opposite direction will permit themercury to contact with the second electrode with but a comparativelyshort distance of travel and will therefore bridge the electrodes for aconsiderably longer period of time. This adjustment maybe very readilyand conveniently made as may be the adjustment of the armatures on thearmatu-re shaft.

By referring now more particularly to Fig. 8, the electrical circuitsthrough the flasher will now be traced. One side of the battery 44'isconnected to the terminal'45, which latter is suitably insulated fromthe casing 10 and mounted thereon, said terminal 45 being connected toanother terminal 46 mounted on the upright 12 of the electromagnet. Theother end of the terminal 46, which latter projects through the upright12, is connected by means of a' flexible connection It will be notedthat in the illustration shown in the drawings, two mercury tubecontactors have been shown, one of said contactors 32 controlling theelectrical circuit through the coil 15 and the other contactor 33controlling the circuit through the lamp or other load. Assuming thatthe contactor 32 is in a position such that the mercury bridges theelectrodes 34 and 35, thus establishing an electrical circuittherethrough, the electrical current passes through the armature 25 fromthe flexible lead 47 and thence through the clip 30, the electrodes ofthe contactor tube 32, the conducting spring 38, terminal 41 to the coiland back to the other side of the battery 44. As has been hereinbeforedescribed, the energization of the coil 15, by means of the electricalcircuit just recited, actuates the armatures 23 and 24 to rotate theshaft 25 which causes a rotation of the contactors 32 and 33 therebybreaking the electrical circuit through the tube 32 and establishing anelectrical circuit through the contactor 33.

lVhen the contactor 33 is in a closed circuit position, an electricalcircuit is completed from the flexible lead 47 through the armatureshaft 25 and thence through the bracket 30, the electrodes 34 and 35,the conducting spring 38 to the terminal 43, and through vthe lamp orother load 48 back to the other side of the battery. In short, when thecontactor 32 is in a closed circuit position, one side of the battery 44is connected to the armature shaft 25 and from thence through the coil15 and back to the other side of the battery, thus energizing the coil.Should the contactor 33 be in a closed circuit position, one side of thebattery 44 is connected through the shaft 25 and through the contactor33 to the lamp 48 or other load and back to the other side of thebattery.

However, in order to simplify the construction and to minimize the costof manufacturing, it may be desirable to operate the electric flasherwith but a single mercury contactor tube in a single electrical circuit.In this instance, the energization of the coil 15 and the operation` ofthe lamp or other load will be obtained simultaneously. Although in someinstances it may be practical,

this is not particularly desirable, because of the heavy drag on thebattery. It would seem that too much electrical energy would be takenfrom the battery at one time with the result that the lamp 48 would besomewhat dimmed. It does not seem necessary to make a showing of anelectrical circuit that would incorporate this feature as it is quiteapparent that the lamp 48 or other load could then be positioned in theline between the coil 15 and one side of the battery.

As a result of this invention, an electrical switch is obtained wherebythe switching means thereof is operated by and directly supported on anactuating element which is in the path of an electromagnet. By mountingthe switching means so that its longitudinal axis coincides with theaXis of rotation of the actuating element, the linkage mechanism whichhas heretofore been necessary between the actuating element and theswitch is eliminated and thereby a minimuml of electrical current isrequired for the operation of the device. Further, by reason of normallyholding the actuating element out of the magnetic path of theelectromagnet, the device is self-starting upon receiving a supply ofelectrical energy therethrough. It will be particularly noted that thedevice will operate without substantial regard to the plane at which itis disposed whereby it will be unnecessary to provide for a finaladjustment subsequent to its installation in an apparatus with which itis associated.

While but a single embodiment of this incontrolling electrical circuitsand fixedly supported on said shaft in a substantially coaxial relationtherewith, one of said electrical circuits being adapted to control theoperation of said electromagnet,'the other of said electrical circuitsbeing adapted to control the flash periods through said flasher.

2. In an electric flasher, a rotatable shaft, an electromagnet foractuating said shaft, a plurality of mercury tube contactors forcontrolling electrical circuits and fixedly supported on said shaft in asubstantially coaxial relation therewith, one of said electricalcircuits being adapted to control the operation of said electromagnet,the other of said electrical circuits being adapted to control the flashperiods through said flasher'. said contactors being axially adjustablewhereby the length of flash period is controlled.

3. In an electric flasher, a support, a plurality of intersectingsupporting discs mounted thereon, an armature shaft mounted on theperipheries of said supporting discs, an armature adjustably mounted onsaid shaft,

an elect-romagnet for actuating said arma-y ture, and a pair of mercurytube contactors ad]ustably mounted on said shaft and substantiallycoaxial therewith for controlling.

electrical circuits, one of said electrical circuits being adapted tocontrol the operation of said electromagnet.

4. In an electric flasher, a support, a plurality of intersectingsupporting discs mounted thereon, an armature shaft mounted on theperipheries of said supporting discs, an unbalanced armature adjustablymounted on said shaft, an electromagnet for actuating said armature, apair of contactors having a pair of spaced cooperating electrodes and abody of current conducting fluid disposed -therein for controllingelectrical circuits, a

pair of collars adjustably mounted on the ends of said shaft forsupporting said contactors, said collars and said vshaft being of a.conducting material, one electrode of each of said contactors beingelectrically connected to its supporting collar whereby said latterelectrodes are electrically connected, a suptrically connectsaidelectrodes and said terf said biased position, and a pair of mercurytube contactors ixedly mounted on said shaft and substantially coaxialtherewith for controlling electrical circuits, one of said electricalcircuits being adapted to control the operation of said electromagnet.

6. In an electric flasher, a rotatable shaft, an armature mounted onsaid shaft having a weighted portion integral therewith tending tomaintain a biased position thereof, an electromagnet for actuating saidarmature out of said biased, position, and a pair of mercury tubecontactors fixedly mounted on said shaft and substantially coaxialtherewith for controlling electrical circuits, one of said elec. tricalcircuits being adapted to control the operation of said electromagnetand the other of said electrical circuits being adapted 'to control theflash periods through the flasher.

7. In an electric flasher, a support, a pluv rality of intersectingsupporting discs mounted thereon, an armature shaft mounted on theperipheries of said supporting discs, an ar- `mature adjustably mountedon said shaft haring a weighted portion thereon tending to maintain abiased position thereof, an electromagnet for actuating said armatureoutl of said biased position, and a pair of mercury tube contactorsadjustably mounted on said shaft and substantially coaxial therewith forcontrolling electrical circuits, one of said electrical circuits beingadapted to control the operation of said electromagnet. y

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

" L. A. M. PHELAN.

porting terminal mounted adjacent the end of each of said contactors,and a conducting spring mounted on each of said supporting terminals andconnected to the other electrode of its adjacent contactor for servingto elec-

